The SCORE 2014 Issue 3 2014 | Page 23

consensus (a strength of this generation), they also need to be able to make the occasional tough call. Many millennials will have to acquire this independent decision-making capability to become successful leaders. Share organizational knowledge via a plan. Millennials like to know about the roles of others in their organization as well as where it is heading. Take time to update millennial supervisors on all parts of the company. Create a plan that outlines the organization’s various roles as well as its objectives over several years. This will help new supervisors better understand how their role ties in to the big picture. Work-life balance can exist with deadlines. Millennials don’t like forcing objectives or ideas on others and achieving work-life balance is among the objectives most commonly highly ranked by members of this generation. A new millennial supervisor is not going to feel good about enforcing deadlines or extra hours on others. A healthy and vibrant work-life 2 3 balance should be the goal for a team 80 percent of the time. But emerging projects might bear unyielding and inflexible deadlines at times. Being able to enforce an unpopular timeline that may require going the extra mile (and more office hours) is key. Model generational understanding and appreciation. Millennials (like others) can have a difficult time appreciating and understanding co-workers of other generations. Coaching in this regard is vital. A millennial supervisor needs to know why baby boomers are so loyal and why Gen X-ers are driven, further, a millennial supervisor needs to know how to motivate, look after and lead all types of people on his or her team. Establish an appropriate level of personal and professional workplace sharing. Many millennials enjoy merging work with personal time. With such a framework, sharing with colleagues about the weekend may very well veer into overly-detailed sharing. Remember, this is the share-everything generation; 4 5 co-workers often are more than colleagues and friends as well. Modeling healthy boundaries for a new supervisor and encouraging them to do the same with their teams will be advantageous. Clearly explain that meeting all requirements of a job description is only part of the job. As a millennial learns a new leadership role and how to work with new team members, he or she will seek out all the details and an exact direction. Your new supervisor will review the job description and anything asked that falls outside may be open for challenge. Coach this person to deftly navigate through the phases of an organization’s development and why they exist. S 6 This article originally appeared on Entrepreneur.com. Patrick Proctor, SPHR is vice president of operations at Stash Tea Company in Portland, Oregon, and is an experienced organizational development/ HR and strategic business planning leader. Proctor writes about workplace issues and business operations. Follow Proctor @OAKSPROUT. MUSIC - MUSIC VIDEO & DIGITAL SIGNAGE FOR SPORTS BARS! Cost effective tools to leverage your TV’s and sound system to entertain and influence your sports fans! 21 /month 1-866-896-3470 www.controlPLAY.com SCORE | 2014 Issue 3 59 $ the Packages starting at